Oakland In The News 1886 & Beyond Chapter 3

Oakland Churches

The Oakland Churches are the Christian, Methodist, Presbyterian and the Brethren. Mayor Copeland boasts that Oakland has a larger percentage of church goers then any other section in Topeka. An average of 680 attend Sunday School each Sunday.

Oakland Christian Church

The Oakland Christian Church was organized in 1892 with 40 members the Rev. O. B. Aldenson was the first minister. In 1913 a woman Evangelist named sister Hazel Rigg served as minister and increased the membership. The church first meetings were held in the Harding Hall on the corner of Thomas and Wabash. The hall is now known as the Bennett’s Apartments. Land was soon found on the corner of Thomas and Michigan. A building committee and fundraising committee was soon in order. Shortly after with approximately $1,600 and lone the land was bought the building was started. In the fall of 1903 the church was ready for the dedication.
In 1972 ground breaking ceremonies for the present sanctuary took place the dedication ceremonies was held on August 20, 1972.
In 1974 church members Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Bennett owners of the Bennett’s apartment, give the building to the church as a gift in memory of their son Jack Bennett. The church has now come full circle it now possess the building it all started in.

Courtesy of the Kansas Historical Society

Church of the Brethren ( Dunkard )

The Town Hall was called Saywell Hall it was supplied by Joseph Saywell, The Hall was used from 1890 to the 1892. The Dunkard first meeting at the public Hall was November 25, 1893 at 242 Michigan. The Brethren group bought the building for $1,000 after the 1903 flood. The insurance claim of $100 was applied on the mortgage. The original congregation was made up of farmers mostly from Pennsylvania and Indiana. Scattered over a large area the parishioners came in Buggies, on Horseback, and in Wagons and afoot. They came form towns of Oakland, Ozawkie, Rossville, Silver Lake, Valley Falls, and Map Hill. It’s amusing that the congregation would pick the hall for it’s church when the hall was used more for dancing and what not. But as the saying goes the Lord well provide. The Dunkards were of peaceful persuasion, separating themselves from the community with piety and rules of dress. The men had special fastening on their clothing and could not wear neckties. There was a foot washing ritual that followed the communion services. The Brethren ministers served without pay. One Minister remembered with affection was Roy Kistner and auctioneer from Sabetha. He served each week from 9:30 Sunday to evening service ending at 8pm. He was given $10 a month for expenses. Christopher C. Vandevnter one of Oakland Mayors also served as Ministers for the church.

Oakland Presbyterian

The Oakland Presbyterian Church was organized October 16, 1892 in the Saywell’s Hall, which is now known as Grace Baptist Church. The Presbyterian Church Society met on alternate Sundays in the school house. A three-man committee was appointed to raise funds for a church. A Real Estate developer by the name of J. F. Brigham offered three lots on Riverside Street north of the Woolen Mill. However they decided on some land in the 1300 block of Winfield. With a $2,000 grant from the Presbyterian Assembly plus $400. in member contributions and a $250. gift from J. B. Bartholomew, the church opened at 1301 Winfield Ave. in 1894 free of debt, at a cost of $2,449.96, On June 30, 1915 the building was moved to its present site at Oakland and Thomas the site of a former Band Stand. The church was put over a full basement then remodeled. The church was dedicated on December 15, 1915. One of the Ministers was J. S. Swogger from 1917-1922 he was an active and influential in Oakland’s business. He founded the Oakland State Bank now Kaw Valley State Bank & Trust. Other Minister was Rev. Donald Rogers he was reverend and served for twenty years. In 1973 Donald Rogers became coordinator of the Metropolitan Police Chaplains.

Photo taken by author

Oakland Methodist

In the summer of 1887 in the yard of James Moore a well-known farmer a group met under one of the area’s popular Oak trees on the corner of Chester and Fairchild. A company of people was gathered having conversation, which lead to a matter of special interest to those present. The organization of a class this was the beginning of the Oakland Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Joseph Denison D. D. of Tecumseh was one of the party and under his leadership a permanent organization materialized. The class met for some time in the schoolhouse. Then in 1888 the cornerstone of the present church was laid.

In the spring of 1889 the church was dedicated by Bishop Ninde who was a resided of Topeka. The cost of the building was over $5,000 which was covered and the church was dedicated free of debt. The church for a time consisted of well-to-do farmers. But because of Oakland’s growing eastward and northward and the later addition of the A. T. S. F. Railroad, Oakland became the homes of shop and office men or the common people. Today the membership is mostly of the Industrial Class. The following pastors have served from 1889-1916.

Joseph Denison, Richard Wake, E. R. Brown, S. E. Betts, C. R. Alderson, W. E. Putt, Edward W. Mueller, H. D. Fisher, A. J. Coe, F. J. Seaman, James W. Reed, A. H. Boyd, F. A. Whittlesry, A. C. Koser, A. R. Williams and A. E. Peterson.

There are two cornerstones on the south end of the church that read:
Oakland M. E. Church 1888-1923, Sanctuary 1961.